Raptors parade

Ceremony stops to deal with incident

An official is now on stage, asking the audience to stay calm. The ceremony stops for a brief moment and then continues again.

The MC said they are dealing with a situation which is "close by."

People were running from parts of the square. We'll have more momentarily.

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by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 8:01:19 PM

What happens when they get to the square?

The trophy will be unveiled and the players will make their way to the stage. We'll get speeches and interviews with most of the players and some of the staff including Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Serge Ibaka, Kyle Lowry and coach Nick Nurse.

We're then rumoured to have a performance afterwards ... on the official schedule, there is a question mark beside Drake's name.

Here's CBC's Linda Ward, awaiting the team.

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 6:58:24 PM

Nathan Phillips Square at capacity

The city says said no one else is allowed in the square out front of City Hall.

They are advising fans to watch on television or see the players along the parade route. It will be turning up onto University Avenue shortly.

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 4:33:18 PM

Here's where the parade is headed

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 3:43:00 PM

On the championship bus

The players are travelling on top of five championship-branded double-decker buses. Several of the players have opted to smoke cigars as they make their way along the route. They are joined by the Raptors' "global ambassador" Drake.

Parade route

The parade starts at the Princes' Gates at Toronto's Exhibition Place at 10 a.m. ET. It will make its way east down Lake Shore Boulevard before snaking through downtown and ending up in front of City Hall at Nathan Phillips Square around 12:30 p.m. ET.

At that time, there will be a rally. A large stage has been set up. The square is already swamped with people.

(Randy Potash/CBC)

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 1:35:50 PM

3rd & 7 37yd

3rd & 7 37yd

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Happy parade day

My name is Haydn Watters and I'll be your live blogger as the Raptors team winds their way through the streets of Toronto and eventually to the rally at City Hall to celebrate the NBA Championship win.

We've got reporters on the ground along the parade route who will be filing updates throughout the day. The parade doesn't start until 10 a.m. ET but streets are already packed with people.

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 1:29:12 PM

Fans have lined Toronto's University Ave., ahead of the championship parade

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 1:38:06 PM

Nathan Phillips Square almost full

According to the Toronto Police, the square in front of Toronto's City Hall is almost at full capacity, hours before the team is slated to arrive there.

They are suggesting fans watch from the parade route along University or Queen.

(Linda Ward/CBC)

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 1:50:05 PM

The parade is off to an early start with Raptors player Norm Powell firing a t-shirt cannon

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 1:54:16 PM

Tiny fan

For six month old Xenia Beard, it's all about Kawhi Leonard.

Her dad Daniel Beard got the day off to come to the parade and have been lined up since 8 a.m. to get the best spot.

(Farrah Merali/CBC)

(Farrah Merali/CBC)

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 1:55:58 PM

That's a lot of people

The scene at Nathan Phillips Square, as the parade begins. This crowd will have to wait another 2.5 hours for the team to arrive there.

(Andrew Lahodynskyj/Canadian Press)

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 2:00:15 PM

The view from above

Construction workers have one of the best spots at parade route, watching the parade from scaffolding.

(Marie Morrissey/CBC)

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 2:03:55 PM

'Hopefully it's not once in a lifetime'

Sunny Aujla from Brampton took off work to watch the parade.

"It's a family business so they're not going to care."

"It's a moment for Toronto and it's something to see. Hopefully it's not once in a lifetime."

(Mark Gollom/CBC)

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 2:08:26 PM

Current location: Exhibition grounds

The parade is currently making its way through the Exhibition Place grounds and is headed towards the Prince's Gate, where many fans are gathered.

Here's a look at it now.

(Devin Heroux/CBC)

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 2:13:16 PM

Crowds as far as the eye can see

On University Ave., it's a sea of red.

(Patrick Morrell/CBC)

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 2:22:30 PM

It's wall-to-wall people inside Nathan Phillips Square. Here's what it feels like to be a fan there

The lone Canadian

Chris Boucher is the lone Canadian on the Raptors. He was born in Saint Lucia, but grew up in Montreal, playing soccer and hockey as a kid.

This win means a lot to him as a Canadian.

"We feel on top of the world," he said. "We're finally here, we're champions."

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 2:38:16 PM

"Never going to be a first" again

Richard Simpson, 27, from Bradford, Ont., said he had to come to this Raptors celebration because, simply, "there's never going to be another first championship parade. So it's something you have to experience."

"It's not something you can miss out on."

(Mark Gollom/CBC)

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 2:40:26 PM

An imposter Kawhi Leonard is challenging fans to some basketball as they await the team at City Hall

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 2:43:00 PM

Snowbirds fly over

When the Raptors arrive at Nathan Phillips Square, they'll want to look to the sky.

Nine planes from the Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be flying over the square around 12:30 p.m. ET to mark the occasion.

(Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 2:47:50 PM

Parade moving slower than planned

The team is just making its way through the Prince's Gate at Exhibition Park right now, a checkpoint they were supposed to hit 52 minutes ago.

It's not clear if that's because of a slow start or the sheer number of fans who have come out to watch the parade.

(Moe Doiron/Reuters)

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 2:53:16 PM

Live view from above at Nathan Phillips Square

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 2:55:33 PM

These students couldn't make the parade ...

... so they are throwing their own in Scarborough, east of Toronto.

Listen to all the honks as the kids from Chester Le Public School parade down the sidewalk.

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 2:57:31 PM

It's not just the Snowbirds in the sky

Drake's Boeing 767 has been spotted doing laps around the city. Several of the players flew home with Drake on the plane yesterday after spending days celebrating their win in the U.S.

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 3:06:13 PM

Zayn Vahidy is hoping to get Kawhi Leonard to sign his cast

by Haydn Watters6/17/2019 3:09:21 PM

Some are skipping school ...

... to take in the parade, while others have opted to take in the party in class.

St. John Catholic Elementary School in Guelph opted for a morning of physical activity, including basketball of course.

Others are streaming the celebration in class, like these students who skipped recess.